Vanessa Carter’s Post

Infection after a knee replacement is a devastating complication. We recently published an article using data from multiple centres over a 15-year period following patients with periprosthetic infections. Many different pathogens are present and patients often required multiple further operations before the infection was treated. https://lnkd.in/dUYYpENW In this blog I have listed the preventive steps that are taken before, during and after surgery which has resulted in the lowest possible infection rate https://lnkd.in/dzNAQG-A

Our risk of deep infection and need for implant explantation is very low

🩺🚨 Post-Surgery Care Alert! An infected surgical incision isn't just a concern – it's a situation that requires immediate attention. Elite Hospital Kingwood is dedicated to educating our community about the signs of an infected surgical incision and the steps to take for a safe and speedy recovery. Understanding the early signs - like redness, swelling, unusual pain, drainage, or even fever - is vital for catching and treating infections early. Our latest article dives deep into everything you need to know about Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), from identification to prevention and treatment. Don't hesitate to seek medical care if you suspect an infection. Your health and safety are our top priorities. For more detailed information on how to care for your surgical incision properly, read our full guide: https://lnkd.in/gj85MH5e 🌟 #PostSurgeryCare #InfectionPrevention #EliteHospitalKingwood

According to the World Health Organization, improving infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare facilities can prevent an over-reliance on antibiotics, a key driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Safer hospitals mean fewer infections and every infection prevented is an antibiotic avoided. Read about how Ondine’s light-activated antimicrobial technology is already working to prevent infections in healthcare facilities. #AntibioticResistance, #Antibiotics, #KeepAntibioticsWorking, #WAAW, #WAAW24, #AMR, #AntibioticGuardian https://lnkd.in/ef8Zk3BS

There is limited evidence, consensus and guidance yet on the appropriate use of suppressive antimicrobial therapy as part of treatment strategies of prosthetic joint infection. If this topic interests you than check out this paper published in jbji by Hanssen et. al https://lnkd.in/gUgUvMDK

Dr Ashraf K. I would add that eliminating the need for antimicrobials is also essential. For example, urologists will explain that for almost every catheter insertion, a urinary tract infection is not only possible but is >90% assured. Whether it requires antimicrobial treatment depends on many factors, including the microbe, severity, age, and immune status of the patient. We need to find ways to lower rates of UTIs, surgical site infections, and C diff infections without accelerating antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance. There are many technologies available, including ultraviolet light therapies in human-safe wavelengths, such as UV 222.

What is your current practice around preoperative bathing? I'm keen to hear about your individual experiences and what you think we can all to to optimise surgical patient outcomes. Check out my comment: #SSIPrevention bundles: a focus on preoperative skin decolonisation, in the British Journal of Nursing (BJN) where I share my own clinical experiences on #PreoperativeBathing #PreoperativeSkinDecolonisation: https://lnkd.in/dY8V3mKa. I draw from previous #SSIPrevention bundle evidence by prominent #SSI experts like: ➡️David Leaper & Charles Edmiston: "Should preoperative showering or cleansing with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) be part of the surgical care bundle to prevent surgical site infection?" https://lnkd.in/dJHBbA9v. ➡️Judith Tanner Martin Kiernan et al: Do surgical care bundles reduce the risk of surgical site infections in patients undergoing colorectal surgery? A systematic review and cohort meta-analysis of 8,515 patients https://lnkd.in/etSkZZsk. Join the debate #SSIPreventionFamily SSI Prevention We're #InThisTogether 🙌 #SSIPVision #SSIPMission #SSIPStrategy #SafeSurgery #PreventSSI #StopSSI

🦴Are you involved in arthroplasty surgery or bone and joint infection management? 🦴Would you like to help shape development of an ex vivo model to validate a novel technology to prevent peri-prosthetic joint infection? I am a PhD researcher at Sheffield Hallam University working with a hybrid silica based sol-gel device coating for local antimicrobial delivery to prevent periprosthetic joint infections in cementless arthroplasty surgeries. In addition to antimicrobial efficacy, cytotoxicity and biocompatibility testing, including in an ex vivo bone model, I believe it is very important to consider the viewpoints of clinicians who may be future users of this new technology! I am very interested in your opinion regarding your preferred antimicrobials in bone cement or antibiotic loaded spacers to inform my decision making and research which will lead to publication. Your valuable input will help shape my choices regarding the antibiotic (s) to incorporate into the sol-gel coating, and would greatly appreciate it if you could find time to fill out my short (8 question) survey: INFORMATION SHEET AND CONSENT FORM LINK: https://lnkd.in/emysMhm2 To maintain anonymity, the survey link will be emailed to you after your completion of our participant consent form. If you are interested in sharing your thoughts, please could you complete the consent form and send it to me by email at sarah.boyce@shu.ac.uk? Any help will be greatly appreciated! If you are interested in further information on our research, here is the most recent research paper: The antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility of a controlled gentamicin-releasing single-layer sol-gel coating on hydroxyapatite-coated titanium | Bone & Joint (boneandjoint.org.uk), and Professor Tom Smith’s (part of my fantastic supervisory team)recent REF report: Our research into antibiotics is helping surgeons carry out life-changing work | Sheffield Hallam University (shu.ac.uk)

Air Quality Ispection should be paramount on your list in procedural rooms.